You are here: American University Campus Life Diversity and Inclusion Gender-Based Housing Considerations
Contact Us
Monday-Friday, 9am - 5pm
Mary Graydon Center, Room 201 and 202
Center for Diversity and Inclusion 4400 Massachusetts Avenue NW Washington, DC 20016 United StatesGender-Based Housing Considerations
Students who need housing considerations due to their gender identity should complete the Gender-Based Housing Consideration Form. Considerations may include access to affirming bathrooms, roommates, and room type.
Submission Deadlines:
| Type of Student | Housing Start Date | Submission Deadline |
|---|---|---|
| Incoming First Year | Fall 2020 | June 5, 2020 |
| Returning Students | Fall 2020 | February 7, 2020 |
Note: Considerations submitted after the above deadlines will be considered depending on availability.
Have questions about Gender-Based Considerations that are not answered in our FAQ below? Feel free to email the Coordinator for LGBTQ Support & Diversity Programs, Anna Morrison at amorrison@american.edu.
Gender Based Housing Considerations FAQ
Who should submit a Gender-Based Housing Consideration form?
Students who have specific considerations based on their gender identity
(transgender students looking for accepting roommates, non-binary students looking to have access to a gender-neutral restroom, and other gender-identity related considerations) may submit the form.
Am I guaranteed to receive the specific considerations I submit through the form?
No. Each request is carefully reviewed and must meet the criteria for consideration. All considerations are based on availability and are only for gender-identity related considerations.
I have a housing request/preference that is not related to my gender identity, can I submit it through this form? For example: I would prefer to live in a single in Anderson.
No. The Gender-Based Housing Considerations form is only for students who have housing considerations based on their gender identity.
How is this different from all-gender housing?
Electing into all-gender housing indicates that a student is comfortable living with other students regardless of their or their roommate’s gender identity or sex assigned at birth. Any student may elect into all-gender housing on their housing form. The Gender-Based Housing Considerations form is only for students with gender-based considerations which may include access to non-gendered restrooms, accepting roommates, and room type.
I am a woman and a sophomore and want to be able to pick a room during room selection with my friend who is a man. Do I need to fill out the Gender-Based Housing Considerations form?
No. Upper class students wishing to enter into room selection with differently gendered roommates only need to select into all-gender housing on their housing forms. Then, they will be able to select into a room with student(s) of any gender.
Can I use this form to request a room who was assigned a certain sex at birth?
No. American University has a non-discrimination policy that includes gender identity. These policies are designed to support and protect our community members. Not only does this ensure that all of our students can participate fully in their college experiences, but also that we don’t ask about anyone’s sex assigned at birth, since it does not and should not affect their education. This is a crucial part of our plan for Inclusive Excellence, which underlies all of our work at AU. Students who do not elect into all-gender housing and do not fill out the Gender-Based Housing Considerations form will be eligible to room only with someone with the same legal sex on file.
Can I submit a Gender-Based Housing Considerations form after the deadline?
Yes, you can submit a Gender-Based Housing Considerations form at any time. However, these considerations are all based on availability. Turning in the form before the deadline is preferred and enables our team to make recommendations when there is the greatest number of rooms available.